Balloon on Fire

REQUIREMENTS

2 Balloons

Water

Candle

Kitchen Lighter

WHAT TO DO

Fill one of the balloons with air and the other with a little water. Light the candle with the kitchen lighter.

WHAT HAPPENS

When you bring the balloon with only air close to the candle, it bursts immediately after it making contact with the flare. Sometimes it explodes even before it makes contact. The second balloon with the water in it, when brought close to the candle doesn’t explode, even though the balloon is kept directly under the flare for some amount of time.

WHY THIS HAPPENS

This happens because water is a great conductor of heat and does not allow the balloon to overheat.

TRY THIS

Fill as much water as you can in the balloon and bring it near the candle. What happens?